Folding table.



a. W. DUNKELBURGER.

. FOLDING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1911.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oHAnLEs WILLIAM DUNKELBURGEB, 0F CLINTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR '10 HEMINGWAY FURNITURE COMPANY, OF CLINTON, IOWA.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed May 11, 1911. Serial No. 626,519.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern r Be it known that I, G'HARLEsWILLIAM DUNKELBURGER, a citizen .of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Folding Table, the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a folding-table in which the supporting legs are so interconnected that they simultaneously fold under the table top by a operation. One pair of legs is pivotally connected to the table top with the table top. The two pairs of legs are so connected together by means of links that when the upper ends of the ,slidable legs are slid forwardly these legs fold under the table top and at the same time the other pair of legs is automatically swung In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding table embodying my invention, the table being shown tilted back so as to expose the surface of the table top where the legs are connected; Fig. 2 is a bottom lan view of the table showing the legs in fo ded position; and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detailed view showing one of the plates at the upper end of the slidable, legs in the undercut groove of the table top.

The top or body 1 of the'table may be of any suitable formand is, for the sake of illustration, shown herein as the top of an ironing table. On the under surface of the table near one end thereof is secured the transverse bar 2 by means of bolts or rivets 3, or in any other suit-able manner. By providing the bar 2 with slots 3 through which the bolts extend, the top is free to shrink or swell without danger of distortion. The bar 2 is referably of metal and is at its ends provlded with downwardly bearing flanges 4 for receiving the pivot pins 5 to which are pivoted the legs 6. 7 connects the legs 6 together. At the other end of the table 1 in the under surface thereof, is a pair of undercut grooves 8 which extend parallel and terminate at the point 9 which is at a suitable distance from the pivotal connection of the legs 6. The shape-of single near one end] thereof, and the other pair of legs has a combined sl'lding and pivotal connection Abracing board or strip.

the grooves 8 is best shown in the detailed view of Fig; 3, from which it is seen that each groove comprises a horizontal portion 10 and a vertical portion or slot 11. In each of these groovesoperates a guide plate'12 of which sheet metal bent into. substantially T-shaped form. The horizontal portion 13 of each conveniently formed of a single piece of guide plate operates in the horizontal portion 10 of the associated groove, and the vertical or Web portion 14: of each guide plate extends through the vertical slot 11 of the groove 8. 15 are pivotally connected to the guide plates 12 by pivot pins 16. The legs 15 are firmly braced by means of transverse bars or strips 17 A pair of links 18 is at one end pivoted to the legs 6 at the points '19 and at the other end to-the pivot pins 16. A second pair of links 20 is at one end connected to the pivot pins 5 and at the other end to the legs 15 at the points 21.

When the legs are in supporting position, the guide plates 12 rest, against the ends 9 of the groove 8, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position the two pairs of legs diverge downwardly and form a firm support for the table top. To fold the legs it is only necessary to grasp one of-the legs 15 near their upper end to slide the guide plates 12 The upper ends of the legs i toward the open end of the grooves. When this is done the links 18 are drawn forwardly and cause the legs 6 to rock toward the table top about the pivot pins 5. At the same time that the legs 15 are given a sliding motion through these legs also receive a pivotal movement about the points 21 through the links 20.

By means of this exceedingly simple arrangement, both pairs of legs are moved lnto fold ed position bya single operation. The legs 16 are spread so as to permit the legs 15 to fold directly against the under surface of the table, as shown in Fig. 2. The links 18 and 20 do not interfere in the least with the folding of both pairs against the under side of the table.

pies very little space and may be stored away in a place where but little room is available. The form of the grooves 8 and the guide plates 12 allows the latter to slide freely in the grooves and at the same time positively prevents separation of the guide plates from the grooves.

the guide plates 12,

of legs flat When the table is in this folded position it occu- Having thus described my invention what I .claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A folding table, comprising a top provided on its under surface with grooves running from one end toward a point near the center, integral bearing flanges slidably mounted in said grooves, a second pair of legs pivotally connected to said bearing flanges, said grooves having their inner limits atsuch a point that the upper ends of the legs, limited in their inward movement thereby, will incline toward each other when the table is erected, a pair of legs pivotally connected to said top near the end opposite said grooves, inter-connecting links between the two pairs of legs for the purpose of folding said legs under the table top by a single operation, and said links bemg each pivoted at one end to the pivotal axis of the legs to facilitate the folding of said legs in the shortest space possible.

2. A folding table, comprising a top provided with T-shaped grooves on its under surface running from one end toward a point near the center of said top, bearing flanges slidably mounted in said grooves, a

thereby,

pair of legs pivotally connected to said bearing flanges, said grooves having their inner limits 'at such a point that the upper ends of the legs, limited in their inward movement will incline toward each other when the table is erected, a second pair of legs spaced a farther distance apart than said first mentioned legs and pivotally connected to said table top near the end opposite said grooves, diagonally arranged links between the two pairs of legs, said links being each pivoted at one end to the outside of said first mentioned legs and at the other end to the inside of said widely spaced legs to thereby permit said legs to fold closely against the under surface of said table top, and said links being each pivoted at one end to the pivotal axis. of-the legs to facilitate the folding of said legs in the shortest space possible.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of May A. D. 1911.

CHARLES WILLIAM DUNKELBURGER.

Witnesses:

P. B. WOLFE, CAssm LYoNs. 

